Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration N^o 18 MV

Although originally founded in 1812, the name Champagne Laurent-Perrier was not conceived until 1964. After changing hands through several deaths and marriages, it was Bernard de Nonancourt who initiated Laurent-Perrier's rise to world fame. One of Champagne's most important figures in the 20th century, he officially took over in 1948 after a three-year apprenticeship at the Houses of Delamotte and Lanson. In his 62-year tenure, production grew from just 80,000 bottles annually to over eight million. Under de Nonancourt, Laurent-Perrier were the first House to use stainless-steel vats and the first House to create both a zero dosage champagne (Ultra Brut) and a non-vintage prestige cuvée (Grand Siècle).

Sadly, de Nonancourt passed away in 2010 and Laurent-Perrier is now managed by his two daughters, Alexandra and Stéphanie. Since 2020 Alexandra's daughter, Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt has taken on the global role of Brand Ambassador for Grand Siècle. The production style is elegant, Chardonnay-driven, pure and fruit-forward and current Cellar Master Michel Fauconnet believes strictly in minimising oxidation. Indeed, Laurent-Perrier are one of the most reductive in style, serving to enhance their fruity expression and smoky complexity. Now one of the region's largest producers, they are perhaps best known for Cuvée Rosé, the most recognised rosé champagne on the planet.

Cellar Master: Olivier Vigneron
Winery Location: Tours-sur-Marne | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Vallée de la Marne
Annual Production (bottles): 7,500,000

Chef de Cave History at Champagne Laurent-Perrier:

Olivier Vigneron 2025 - Current | He hails from a farming family in the Marne region, but didn’t discover the world of winemaking until he was a student, when he took part in a grape harvest. He specialised the sector with a degree in biochemistry from the University of Reims and earned a National Diploma in Oenology. He then joined the Despagne vineyard in Bordeaux, where he gained experience in winemaking and team management. In 2000, he met Alain Terrier, then cellar master at Laurent-Perrier, who hired him as assistant at De Castellane. Four years later, in 2004, he joined Laurent-Perrier's newly appointed Cellar Master Michel Fauconnet.

Michel Fauconnet 2004 - retired in 2025 | Joined Laurent-Perrier in 1973, became the 3rd Cellar Master of the House, after respectively Edouard Leclerc in 1950 and Alain Terrier in 1983. Michel held all the production positions: cellar worker, supervisor, then Circle Manager. From 2004 he has been Cellar Master and Production Director. Never short of innovation, during his time he oversaw the introduction in 2018 of LP Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV and in 2024 LP Heritage Brut NV, a richly textured wine from all reserve wines. Michel Fauconnet also managed the winemaking of Champagne Delamotte, Champagne Salon and Champagne De Castellane. In 2014 he also joined the Laurent-Perrier Management Board. After more than 50 years at the Maison, Michel Fauconnet has officially retired, handing over the reins to his long-standing assistant Olivier Vigneron. The champagnes made during Michel's time as Cellar Master stand testament to his winemaking genius, producing wines without any oxidation and with textural richness and fruit intensity. We will enjoy drinking his champagnes for at least another decade!

Alain Terrier - 1983 - 2004 | Perfected the art of blending, faithful to the quest for excellence. He selects grapes from the best areas of the Champagne vineyards, vinifies each batch separately and monitors the blends with high standards. This plot vinification becomes a signature of the House.

Edouard Leclerc 1950 - 1984 | These were early days for Laurent-Perrier and Edouard would have been working very closely with De Nonancourt, one of their great partnerships was Grand Siècle. Bernard observed that nature would never provide the perfect oenological year though the art of assemblage, LP could in fact create it. A blend of three exceptional vintages, Grand Siècle was launched in 1959 as a blend of 1952, 1953 and 1955. Their next great venture was Cuvee Rose, created in 1968, carefully selected Pinot Noir plots are sorted and destemmed before a period of maceration. By the time he retired from his role in 1983 Laurent-Perrier had introduced winemaking technology to enhance all the blends creating fruit forward styles in the lightly reductive style.

Chef de Cave History at Champagne Laurent-Perrier:

Olivier Vigneron 2025 - Current | He hails from a farming family in the Marne region, but didn’t discover the world of winemaking until he was a student, when he took part in a grape harvest. He specialised the sector with a degree in biochemistry from the University of Reims and earned a National Diploma in Oenology. He then joined the Despagne vineyard in Bordeaux, where he gained experience in winemaking and team management. In 2000, he met Alain Terrier, then cellar master at Laurent-Perrier, who hired him as assistant at De Castellane. Four years later, in 2004, he joined Laurent-Perrier's newly appointed Cellar Master Michel Fauconnet.

Michel Fauconnet 2004 - retired in 2025 | Joined Laurent-Perrier in 1973, became the 3rd Cellar Master of the House, after respectively Edouard Leclerc in 1950 and Alain Terrier in 1983. Michel held all the production positions: cellar worker, supervisor, then Circle Manager. From 2004 he has been Cellar Master and Production Director. Never short of innovation, during his time he oversaw the introduction in 2018 of LP Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV and in 2024 LP Heritage Brut NV, a richly textured wine from all reserve wines. Michel Fauconnet also managed the winemaking of Champagne Delamotte, Champagne Salon and Champagne De Castellane. In 2014 he also joined the Laurent-Perrier Management Board. After more than 50 years at the Maison, Michel Fauconnet has officially retired, handing over the reins to his long-standing assistant Olivier Vigneron. The champagnes made during Michel's time as Cellar Master stand testament to his winemaking genius, producing wines without any oxidation and with textural richness and fruit intensity. We will enjoy drinking his champagnes for at least another decade!

Alain Terrier - 1983 - 2004 | Perfected the art of blending, faithful to the quest for excellence. He selects grapes from the best areas of the Champagne vineyards, vinifies each batch separately and monitors the blends with high standards. This plot vinification becomes a signature of the House.

Edouard Leclerc 1950 - 1984 | These were early days for Laurent-Perrier and Edouard would have been working very closely with De Nonancourt, one of their great partnerships was Grand Siècle. Bernard observed that nature would never provide the perfect oenological year though the art of assemblage, LP could in fact create it. A blend of three exceptional vintages, Grand Siècle was launched in 1959 as a blend of 1952, 1953 and 1955. Their next great venture was Cuvee Rose, created in 1968, carefully selected Pinot Noir plots are sorted and destemmed before a period of maceration. By the time he retired from his role in 1983 Laurent-Perrier had introduced winemaking technology to enhance all the blends creating fruit forward styles in the lightly reductive style.